“Understanding the Armenian Genocide through Primary Sources and Memoirs” In-Person Full-day Boston, MA Workshop ~ Thursday, November 21, 2024, 8 am to 4 pm

The Genocide Education Project (GenEd), National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), and Armenian Museum of America (AMA) join forces to provide this workshop for middle and high school Social Studies and English Language Arts teachers, in tandem with the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) conferences in Boston, MA., November 21-24. (Conference attendance is not necessary for participation in this workshop.)

“Understanding the Armenian Genocide through Primary Sources and Memoirs”
During this full-day workshop for social studies and English language arts teachers, educators will gain expertise in effectively using primary sources, including “survivor objects,” written and video testimony, literature, and photographs, to help students understand the impact of genocide on survivors and their descendants over generations.

In addition to learning how to teach about the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government of the Ottoman Empire, you’ll receive numerous teaching resources and enjoy a tour of the Armenian Museum of America and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research. You’ll also hear from Armenian American educator Houry Boyamian, who published her father’s moving memoir of survival, Goodbye, Antoura.

The day begins at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, home of long-standing Armenian American schools, businesses, churches, news outlets, and community groups, many of which were established a century ago by Armenian Genocide survivors. Enjoy a tour of the exhibits and be guided through the fundamentals of the history of the Armenian Genocide and its continuing manifestations today. Master educators, museum staff, and local descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors will offer methods and modes of inquiry for approaching this difficult topic with sensitivity and humanizing those who experienced it using primary sources and

At noon, enjoy an Armenian lunch at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). NAASR, a non-profit membership organization, is one of the world’s leading Armenian Studies centers and home to one of the largest research libraries in the Armenian diaspora.

Tour the building uniquely designed to reflect the dynamic nature of Armenian culture and architecture. Discover how NAASR has supported Armenian scholarship for over sixty years through a variety of initiatives. Explore the extensive resources available in NAASR’s library and bookstore, along with its online platform designed explicitly for secondary-level educators and students. Conclude your visit by engaging with primary source materials and crafting a document-based lesson plan for the classroom.

  • Registration is required. Teachers attending NCSS/NCTE should register through NCSS/NCTE AND GenEd (to help us gather a count of participants for lunch.)
  • NCSS/NCTE attendance is not required to participate in this workshop.
  • Arrangements will be made to transport NCSS/NCTE participants to and from the workshops.